WATER SHORTAGE

Grey River Argus, 9 January 1941, Page 3

WATER SHORTAGE

NELSON DROUGHT. NELSON, January 8. Complete prohibition of the use of the hose in Nelson Has been decided on. Explaining the situation the City Engineer (Mr C. I. Kidson) said this morning that the dam had ceased to overflow, and twice last week the well at Hanby Park was pumped dry. There were large areas in the town without water at all during the day, he said, and the temporary supply from Poorman’s Valley was just sufficient to supply the aerodrome, and those on the Tahunanui side, and a small amount for the town, but not enough to relieve the situation. Tlie engineer added that' it might be possible to get a limited quantity into town from the Roding river in about five weeks’ time, but if the season was going to be a dry one it would be foolish to risk losing all the storage at the present moment. He mentioned also the terrific fire risk if supplies were not conserved. The position was a serious one, and

though there was no need for alarm, it require*! great caution. Asked about the Roding river the engineer said that there was plenty of water there at. present —eight or ten times as much as Nelson needed.